Each of the titles for the three movements of the Trumpet Concerto came to me almost by accident. They provided me with a spark of an idea that served as springboards. They are all intentionally ambiguous or open-ended in their meanings.

The first movement, The Infinite Jetty begins with a floating pulse in the orchestra that unfolds in a meandering yet concerted way. The trumpet enters with a contemplative and almost elegiac line above the orchestra. After a brief climax new material enters, signposted by punched-out chords in the piano, harp and pizzicato strings. The trumpet then plays very splashy and virtuosic music. A great deal of the ensuing music is based on fragments of fanfare-like motifs – a perfect vehicle for the trumpet. After a ‘cadenza’, where the soloist is set against random loops in the orchestra, the movement returns to the opening material, still meandering, but this time completely exhausted.

The second movement, Dead Centre begins with low, slow pondering lines from the double-basses and contrabassoon. After the plaintive entry of the trumpet, the music entwines and grows to a large climax, without ever letting light in. After a calming passage, the music soon becomes agitated and then forceful, culminating with loud, angry outbursts between orchestra and soloist. Like the first movement, this movement concludes with a return of the opening material. This time however, the trumpeter plays with a piece of tubing removed from the instrument, creating an eerie and strangely muted effect on certain notes.

The third movement, Stop the Clocks, sets off like a juggernaut, propelled by a driving pattern in the cellos and double basses. The music catapults onwards toward a serene middle section. After this, a virtuosic loop begins in the trumpet that on each repeat grows from within. Meanwhile the orchestra attempts to consume the soloist until they all meet at an apocalyptic final note.

During the writing of the concerto, I was fortunate enough to be able to collaborate with David Elton, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s principal trumpet player. Initially he came to my studio to play some of my more curious requests. These ideas were then bounced back and forth, constantly being revised, modified and refined. I am extremely grateful for his enthusiasm, support and fine musicianship.